NEW DELHI: Ending a negotiation of nearly five years, the Central Government has made positive observations on the issue of giving ownership rights to the residents of the unauthorised colonies in Delhi, asserted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday. However, the CM also said that the Centre has sent some basic queries on the matter which the Delhi government will respond soon thereafter the CM observed that there would be no hassle to get approval on the proposal.
The Delhi government on Wednesday received a reply to the proposal it had sent to the Centre in November 2015.
"The Centre has sent a very positive response, they are ready and asked some questions which will be replied by us in a few days. The dream of residents in unauthorised colonies to have ownership rights of their properties will be realised soon," said the Delhi CM.
Kejriwal thanked the Centre for a positive response in the matter. "The Centre has sent a very positive response. They are ready, and asked some questions which will be replied by us in a few days," he said. The AAP-led Delhi government which earlier took various stern stands on the matters pending to the approval of Centre and balmed the Centre for such delay, CM Kejriwal on Thursday avoided any such blame on the Centre. "I know the project got delayed but this is not the time to blame anyone for this delay because it is good news for the citizens," he said.
The CM also explained the steps the Delhi government took for the unauthorised colonies. "Registries of properties in 1,797 unauthorised colonies in Delhi will begin after Centre's approval to Delhi government's proposal," he said, adding that there was no development in these unauthorised colonies.
"There was no roads, sewer pipelines and drainage system. But, Delhi government stood beside them. We will spend or have already spent Rs 6,000 crore to develop these colonies. This became possible as our government was committed to providing ownership rights to people," he said.
Adding to the statement of the Chief Minister, Delhi's Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain, said: "The cut-off date for properties to be covered for ownership rights in unauthorised colonies will be January 1, 2015."
Last month, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had directed officials to complete development works in at least 781 unauthorised colonies in Delhi within the next five months. He had even directed officials to submit a weekly report on the progress of development works and would himself monitor the same. "A provision of Rs. 1,500 crore in the budget has been made by the Delhi government for the development of the unauthorised colonies," CM Kejriwal said.